artist stuart semple trademark infringement lawsuit yves klein estate easy blue paint

British artist Stuart Semple has lost a trademark infringement lawsuit in a French court filed by the estate of Yves Klein. The court ruled that Semple's product “Easy Klein Incredibly Kleinish Blue” violated the Yves Klein trademark, ordering him to pay €16,000 ($18,200) in damages and legal fees. Semple, who claims he was unaware of the lawsuit until it was reported, has two months to appeal. The lawsuit was brought by Yves Amu Klein, the artist's son and operator of Pia Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona, along with Blue Bay Limited, which holds the international trademark for “Yves Klein.” Semple released the paint in 2021 after a decade of development.